Leaders of Egypt's Journalists Syndicate sentenced to 2 years in jail

November 19, 2016 7:52 AM ET

New York, November 19, 2016 - The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the conviction of three leaders of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate today on charges of harboring a fugitive. A Cairo court sentenced Yehia Qallash, the chairman of the syndicate, and board members Khaled al-Balshy and Gamal Abdel Rahim to two years in prison, according to news reports. The court set bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (US$628) each pending appeal.

"The authorities are punishing Yehia Qallash, Khaled al-Balshy, and Gamal Abdel Rahim, who represent the most influential voice for press freedom in Egypt, for working to protect journalists from harassment, threats, and arrests," CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour said from Washington, D.C. "We call on Egyptian authorities to let the Journalists Syndicate and all members of the press do their jobs without fear of reprisal."

Military court in Egypt sentences journalist to 10 years in jail

May 22, 2018 4:07 PM ET

New York, May 22, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the sentencing today of Egyptian freelancer Ismail Alexandrani. A military court in Cairo found Alexandrani guilty of being a member of a banned organization and spreading false news, and sentenced the journalist to 10 years in prison, according...

Egypt should stop blocking access to rights organizations' websites

August 18, 2017 12:52 PM ET

Washington, D.C., August 18, 2017 - Egyptian authorities should immediately stop blocking access to the website of the international press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF, for its French acronym) and the Egyptian group the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....

CPJ urges Egypt to release journalists ahead of Eid al-Adha holiday

August 25, 2016 12:59 PM ET

New York, August 25, 2016 - The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Egyptian media reports that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi might release a number of imprisoned journalists ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which this year falls on September 11. Award-winning photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, better known as Shawkan, is...